Dunfermline Athletic Football Club

Dunfermline 1 Hibernian 2

Saturday, 18th Jul 2015

Pre Season Friendly: Sean Murdoch and Michael Paton start. Jason Talbot red card (18); Scott Allan (34) 0-1; Lewis Stevenson (51) 0-2; Faissal El Bakhtaoui (85) 1-2;

The final pre season friendly allowed home fans first sight of the new look Pars team preparing to challenge for the Ladbrokes League One title. Given the return of 'local hero' Joe Cardle and the other five new signings there was plenty to attract the crowd especially with the alternative choice of a golfing major at St Andrews being disrupted by the Scottish summer.

New signing Sean Murdoch started in goals for Allan Johnston's team and the only other change from the side that faced Livingston the previous Saturday was Michael Paton in place of Lewis Spence.

Former Hibs youth Callum Fordyce, newly appointed first team captain, wore the armband for the first time and led out the teams. Hibs kicked off attacking the goal at the Norrie McCathie Stand end. The Edinburgh side pushed up immediately with both Fordyce and Ben Richards-Everton making timely tackles.

In fourth minute Hibs keeper was the first to make a save, Mark Oxley holding an on-target attempt from David Hopkirk from a range of 25 yards. Three minutes later Faissal El Bakhtaoui connected early with a Josh Falkingham chip over the Hibs defence but his ball from the right failed to get the connection from Michael Moffat at the near post, the close attentions of Jordan Forster doing enough to put the Pars striker off his stride.

Moffat forced the first corner of the afternoon but Hopkirk overhit the eleventh minute opportunity. At the other end Jason Talbot slid in at the top of the Pars box to thwart Jason Cummings just when it looked as though Scott Allan's pass was going to provide Murdoch with his first big test.

On the quarter hour Moffat persevered to drive forward and pick out Paton. The new boy from Queen of the South touched the ball back to Ryan Williamson who cut in and exchanged a pass in the box with Moffat but the full back just could not finish.

In 18 minutes tempers frayed and Jason Talbot was shown a straight red for studs up on Dominique Malonga. Fraser Fyvie reacted and he was shown yellow. Murdoch then dived to his left to save from the resultant free kick and then minutes later the Pars keeper was out sharpish to save with his feet as Cummings again looked likely to score.

With Andy Geggan dropping back to left back Hibs tried to take advantage of the extra man and Malonga drove a powerful shot wide left. In 27 minutes Lewis Stevenson got a chance to have a crack at goal but his shot deflected off Paton and was turned around his right hand post by Murdoch.

The Pars two central defenders were both up for a free kick two minutes later but Falkingham's delivery failed to reach either of the targets. Fyvie came in from the left to release a shot from the edge of the box that Fordyce blocked. Richards-Everton then turned a Stevenson cross over the crossbar from right in front of goal. Murdoch impressed from the corner fisting away the danger.

Hibs took the lead in 34 minutes when Scott ALLAN drove in from the left and despatched an unstoppable shot from 20 yards into the top right corner. 0-1

The Hibees could have doubled their lead only 50 seconds later but Murdoch made a good save from Sam Stanton. Paul Hanlon then hit a free kick into the stand as Dunfermline were pinned back.

Five minutes before the interval Hopkirk sent a free kick across the Hibs box and Falkingham's return was dealt with by the visitors' defence. Malonga headed over when Stevenson delivered a strong cross in from the left.

Half time: Dunfermline 0 Hibernian 1

Sunshine greeted the teams back for the second half and there were no changes on either side as the Pars kicked off. Murdoch was underpressure when he plucked an Allan corner kick out of the air but six minutes into the half a simple cut back from Cummings was drilled low into the bottom right by STEVENSON. 0-2

Murdoch then made a fine block and despite Malonga looking offside play carried on requiring Murdoch to make a great save to deny Cummings at the right post. The Pars efforts thus far in the half had been an off target blast from El Bakhtaoui and a weaker effort from distance by Hopkirk.

The two trialists (full back and striker) who played on Wednesday night at Lesser Hampden came on just after the hour replacing Michael Paton and Michael Moffat enabling Geggan to return to midfield.

A Williamson run in 74 minutes created a chance for the trialist striker but he squeezed the ball out at the right post.

Hibs had brought on four subs as well and two of them combined to make a fine 76th minute chance. Former loanee to the Pars Lewis Allan turned the ball back for Alex Harris and his well struck shot was excellently turned away by Murdoch. Shaun Byrne replaced David Hopkirk and then in 76 minutes no.16 Joe Cardle replaced Andy Geggan.

Next El Bakhtaoui turned mercurial to receive a one two off the trialist and his shot struck the right post but stayed out. The French Moroccan had better luck with his next opportunity, lastching on to a long through ball in 85th minute he placed the ball under Reguero into the net. EL BAKHTAOUI 1-2.

DUNFERMLINE: Sean Murdoch; Ryan Williamson, Callum Fordyce (c), Ben Richards-Everton, Jason Talbot; Andy Geggan (Joe Cardle 76), Michael Paton (Trialist 61), Josh Falkingham, David Hopkirk (Shaun Byrne 74); Michael Moffat (Trialist 64), Faissal El Bakhtaoui
SUBS NOT USED: David Hutton (GK), Lewis Spence, James Thomas, Ryan Wallace, John Potter
SCORERS: El Bakhtaoui (85)
RED CARD: Talbot (18)

HIBERNIAN: Mark Oxley (Antonio Reguero 61); David Gray (Aaron Dunsmore 76), Paul Hanlon (Scott Martin 61), Liam Fontaine, Lewis Stevenson; Jordan Forster, Fraser Fyvie (Alex Harris 61), Scott Allan (Jordan Sinclair 76), Sam Stanton, Jason Cummings (Lewis Allan 61), Dominique Malonga
SUBS NOT USED: Callum Crane, Conor Duthie.
SCORERS: S Allan (34), Stevenson (51)
YELLOW CARD: Fyvie (18)

REFEREE: Nick Walsh
WEATHER: Cloudy, windy 17C
ATTENDANCE 3337

NEXT MATCH: Petrofac Training Cup v Arbroath
Saturday 26th July 2015, kick off 3.00pm at Gayfield

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